The Jewish Voice | FEBRUARY 17, 2017

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America and Israel A Beautiful Friendship Read More on Page 19 February 17, 2017 | 19 Shevat 5777

Vol. 14, Iss. 7

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Bibi in DC for First Meeting with Trump Talks on Iran, Settlements to Take Place

From left to right: Acting Security Advisor Nagel, Military Attache to the Prime Minister Toledano, PM Netanyahu’s chief of staff Horowitz, Israeli Ambassador to the US Dermer and PM Netanyahu, at the Blair House in Washington, February 13. Netanyahu arrived on Tuesday for two days of meetings with President Trump and his cabinet members. (Avi Ohayun/GPO)

By: Adam Kredo

A

fter years of tense relations with the United States under former President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is emerging as one of the most prominent international personalities, according to multiple sources who told the Washington Free Beacon that Democrats, Republicans, and high-level White House officials are clamoring for a sit down with the Israeli leader on his current trip to Washington. He arrived on Tuesday for two days of meetings with President Trump and his cabinet members. Senior official across party lines hope to let Netanyahu know that America has Israel's back and that years of tension during the Obama

administration is just water under the bridge, according to both congressional sources and those close to the Trump administration. Netanyahu's schedule is already packed with powwows between President Trump, senior administration officials and a cast of leading lawmakers on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle. Meetings will center on U.S. lawmakers' desire to reset relations with the Jewish state. Multiple sources told the Free Beacon that sit downs with White House official will focus on holding Iran accountable for violations of the nuclear deal, moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and combating efforts at the United Nations to delegitimize Israel. Netanyahu is expected to meet

with Trump and other senior officia Wednesday before heading to Capitol Hill, where he will meet with leading Democrats and Republicans.

"Democrats will be anxious to show they're close to Israel as well," Ross said, adding that Netanyahu will convey the message that Israel's relationship is with America as a whole, not any one administration. Netanyahu is also expected to take separate meetings with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), sources told the

Free Beacon. Further meetings could take place with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before Netanyahu travels to the House side of the Capitol for an evening meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.). The e is a strong desire among all parties to show Netanyahu that after nearly a decade of chilly relations during the former administration, the United States is prepared to restore the historic relationship with the Jewish state. "Netanyahu's schedule is so full that he literally can't find time for all the high level meetings people want to have with him," said one veteran foreign policy adviser who is closely in touch with the White House on Middle East issues. "The t uth of this is, it's

nature taking its course." Recent polling shows that support for Israel is at an all-time high among Democrats and Republicans. Democratic lawmakers in particular are no longer being pressured by the former administration to distance themselves from Netanyahu and Israel. "Without Obama trying to force Democratic lawmakers to choose between Israel and the United States nature is taking its course and everyone wants to see how they can help bolster the U.S.-Israel relationship," the source said. "Voters want to see this." One source characterized Netanyahu as the "cool kid in town." On Capitol Hill, senior sources fo-

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